Nationals @ Padres, Game 3

[Smithian]

Your Washington Nationals
Pitching
MacKenzie Gore L
3-7 3.19 ERA

Lineup
SS CJ Abrams L
DH James Wood L
2B Luis Garcia L
1B N. Lowe L
3B Brady House R
LF Alex Call R
RF Daylen Lile L
C Riley Adams R
CF Jacob Young R

Saviors of the Nationals Farm System
Pitching
Nick Pivetta R
7-2 3.64 ERA

Lineup
1B Luis Arraez L
3B M. Machado R
CF J. Merrill L
RF F. Tatis R
SS X. Bogaerts R
DH Gavin Sheets L
2B J. Iglesias R
LF B. Johnson S
C Elias Diaz R

It all starts...... At 4:10 PM ET

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Adams starting a day game after starting a night game. Looks like Millas will not play more than once or twice during his call up.

Interesting they are playing Call instead of Bell against a righty.

[Smithian]

Adams starting a day game after starting a night game. Looks like Millas will not play more than once or twice during his call up.

Interesting they are playing Call instead of Bell against a righty.

I was surprised to see that.

I've always thought that they played Ruiz too much because behind the scenes they felt he did a great job in prep and handling the staff. Which I thought was odd. Seeing them ride Riley Adams the same way tells me organizationally they must believe they're better off playing catcher daily than rotating. That makes more sense than it would used to now they drop to a knee, but I'm still surprised. The results haven't proven them right.

[IanRubbish]

Interesting they are playing Call instead of Bell against a righty.

At .378, Call is now the team's OBP leader, just ahead of Wood.

[imref]

Adams starting a day game after starting a night game. Looks like Millas will not play more than once or twice during his call up.

Interesting they are playing Call instead of Bell against a righty.

IIRC they said yesterday that Millas hadn't arrived by game time? Maybe they are giving him a day to settle in. I do expect Adams gets the majority of starts.

[IanRubbish]

I've always thought that they played Ruiz too much because behind the scenes they felt he did a great job in prep and handling the staff.

There are 50 million reasons why they play Ruiz too much, not one has to do with talent. 

I'm not sure Millas is much better, but he deserves more of a chance given that no one above him has proved they're everyday catchers.

[imref]

There are 50 million reasons why they play Ruiz too much, not one has to do with talent. 

I'm not sure the argument that he plays because of his contract holds weight anymore. This team has been quick to ditch poor performers despite contracts this year (Lopez, Poche, Sims, to name a few).

IMHO, Ruiz plays because there's nobody better, and because he's still young and the team is hopeful he'll improve.

[Smithian]

There are 50 million reasons why they play Ruiz too much, not one has to do with talent. 

I'm not sure Millas is much better, but he deserves more of a chance given that no one above him has proved they're everyday catchers.

You can make that argument for why he is first choice catcher, but many catchers who cost more than Ruiz play less often.

Soroka and Williams are our highest paid pitchers. They're not pitching every fourth day.

[IanRubbish]

You can make that argument for why he is first choice catcher, but many catchers who cost more than Ruiz play less often.

Those other catchers don't get paid in Lernerbucks.  Ruiz, like Patrick Corbin used to, plays because of what he was paid.  Other, less dysfunctional teams don't do this so you can't compare.  Ditching a one year $3 million contract of a reliever with an 11.00 ERA isn't that hard.  This team would never do what the Diamondbacks did the year they made it to the WS, which was DFA Madison Bumgarner with nearly 2 years and $30 million left on his contract. 

[IanRubbish]

Soroka and Williams are our highest paid pitchers. They're not pitching every fourth day.

That's nonsensical, no pitcher does.  But Williams is certainly being given plenty of leeway given his 5.65 ERA and inability to even hit 90 mph with his four seamer.  He's also struggling to average 5 IP per start because he gets shelled third time through the order.  He's not a starter on any other team, but the contract is a key consideration keeping him out of the pen, where he should be.  Lord has earned that spot in the rotation.

[IanRubbish]

I'm not sure the argument that he plays because of his contract holds weight anymore. This team has been quick to ditch poor performers despite contracts this year (Lopez, Poche, Sims, to name a few).

IMHO, Ruiz plays because there's nobody better, and because he's still young and the team is hopeful he'll improve.

Those relievers had sky high ERAs, and much smaller one year contracts.  Moreover, they were here to be deadline trade pieces, and had reached the point of zero trade value. 

[para]

Lot's of people here wanted Keibert on the bench. Not the way it happened though. A catcher gets hurt enough in the field. Getting a rebound off the back of dugout. That's some freaky sh@t

[Natsinpwc]

Pivetta would have been a great pickup.  Four year contract for $55 million.  Probably would have needed to go $60 million to get him.  So much better than Williams and you would have a veteran guy as you bring Cavalli and Sykora along. 

[Slateman]

Game

[GataNats]

The most unforgivable playing situation on this team is Williams.   Guy would not have enough stuff to pitch on most college teams.

[GataNats]

Gore’s velocity is down

[imref]

Bad base running and it wasn’t us!

[GataNats]

Great throw by Jake

[para]

How much was his velocity down. sorry wasn't watching that close? He throws tons of pitches

[imref]

Nice catch Jake. Good thing that wasn’t Wrigley

[Natsinpwc]

Bad base running and it wasn’t us!

Well that didn’t last long. 

[imref]

Wasting another Gore start.

[imref]

Not a good day for base running

[GataNats]

Adams so much better with the arm than Ruiz

[para]

we have decent arms in lots of positions but little power in most of those. This team needs more and consistent power from position players in. Can't win without scoring. I would trade some D for some consistent power